Tonight I can write the saddest lines.
Meaning
These opening words of poem XX, written when Neruda was a young poet, begin a farewell to a lost love. The grief is honest and plain. If you are mourning a relationship, write your own unsent letter tonight, say everything, and notice that putting sorrow into words can loosen its hold.
Source: Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair (1924), trans. W. S. Merwin
About the author
(1904–1973) was a Chilean poet and diplomat known for his passionate and lyrical poetry. His works, including "Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair," explore love, politics, and human emotion. Neruda received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1971. His poetry has been widely translated and celebrated. Pablo Neruda’s legacy continues to inspire readers and writers worldwide.
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